North Chicago just prevails in battle with Johnsburg

The North Chicago boys basketball team is moving on - barely.

"We couldn't break them," said Warhawks coach Gerald Coleman, after his team's 75-72 victory over Johnsburg in a Class 3A regional final Friday night at Vernon Hills. "Their record is deceiving."

Top-seeded North Chicago led 71-63 with a little more than a minute remaining, but the No. 3 Skyhawks closed to 75-72 on a basket by junior Mike Dixon. They immediately fouled senior guard Deshawn Chambliss, who missed both free throws.

With about five seconds left, junior Tyler Chambers' 3-point attempt went in and out. Johnsburg got the rebound, but sophomore George Bielis was unable to connect on a hurried, contested 3-pointer.

North Chicago (22-5) will host Chicago Uplift in the sectional semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Uplift beat host Senn 55-47 for a regional title.

The Skyhawks, who start four juniors and a sophomore, finished 17-12.

"This team did everything we asked them to do," Johnsburg coach Luke Ravlin said. "They really brought it, and with a couple of (different) bounces they come out with a win."

Johnsburg led 19-16 after eight minutes, only to see North Chicago senior guard Keith Ford take over the second quarter. Ford made four 3-pointers in the quarter and scored 14 of North Chicago's 18 points. He finished with six 3-pointers and a game-high 27 points.

"He can shoot the blood out of the ball," Ravlin said. "Three or four steps behind the line, it doesn't matter. He's as good as we've seen all year."

Ford's 3-pointer before the halftime buzzer from about 5 feet beyond the arc gave North Chicago a 34-29 lead.

"I was feeling it and my team needed the offense," Ford said.

Johnsburg exploded out of the gate in the second half, scoring the first 8 points. Six of those came points came on 3-pointers Chambers. In all, Chambers hit five 3-pointers and had 18 points. Dixon finished with 18 points,

"It seemed like he was on fire," Dixon said.

Dixon's ability to negotiate North Chicago's tough defense kept Johnsburg's offense running smoothly.

"You can tell he's played a lot of basketball, because no pressure fazes him," Coleman said. "Our guards are quick as heck and he was always in control."

Chambliss' ballhandling and scoring in the fourth quarter was crucial for North Chicago. Chambliss was 8 of 12 from the line and finished with 18 points.

North Chicago senior Joshua Wright scored 16 points and helped limit the effectiveness of 6-foot-7 junior C.J. Fiedorowicz (12 points).